News

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — Veterans throughout the state will benefit from a $10,000 donation to the West Virginia University College of Law from a veterans legal organization based in Washington, DC.

Dave Meyers (right), director of case evaluation and placement for the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, presented the check to Gregory Bowman, dean of the College of Law, during the Veterans Stand Down held recently at the Morgantown National Guard Armory.

The money will be used by the Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic at the College of Law to provide outreach and legal services throughout the state, according to clinic director Jennifer Oliva.

“We have a large veteran population in the southern part of the state, an area that has a high unemployment rate and a high rate of drug use,” explained Oliva. “As part of our land-grant mission and as the only veterans clinic in the state, it’s very important for us to be able to provide our services.”

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — WVU law professor James Van Nostrand told a U.S. Senate subcommittee on October 5 that the state could benefit economically from the EPA Clean Power Plan.

The plan seeks to curb greenhouse gas emissions from coal-powered utility plants that contribute to global climate change. It is being contested by West Virginia and 23 other states.

Van Nostrand testified at a field hearing of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety in Logan, West Virginia, hosted by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Congressman Evan Jenkins (R-WV).

“We have the resources and the people to succeed in this new energy game,” said Van Nostrand, director of the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development at WVU Law.  “There is a revolution underway in the energy industry and, in West Virginia, we are getting killed by friendly fire.”

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA—The West Virginia University College of Law is hosting “Voices Behind the Bars,” a dramatic reading of four stories from Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” on October 10 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Room 154.

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

The program is part of WVU’s 2016-17 Campus Read of “Just Mercy,” in which Stevenson explores the moral implications of the American justice system.

The readers for “Voices Behind the Bars” will be graduate fellows Imani Berry, Oluremi Famodu, Quinn Jones and Phillip Zapkin with honors student Emma Harrison and first-year law student Stephen Scott.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — Amber Brugnoli has been appointed assistant dean for West Virginia Continuing Legal Education (WVCLE) at the West Virginia University College of Law.

She will start March 2017 following the retirement of Jessica Justice Stolarik, who has led the program for 36 years. Brugnoli is working closely with Stolarik this fall as part of the leadership transition.

“Amber is uniquely qualified to direct WVCLE,” said Gregory W. Bowman, dean of the College of Law. “I am confident that she will run and grow a successful program that continues to meet the professional needs of attorneys who practice in our state.”

Since 2013, Brugnoli has been the assistant dean for Career Services at the College of Law. She has also been involved with the Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic and the International Moot Court Team.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — The West Virginia University College of Law has been named a top school for public interest law and criminal law by preLaw Magazine.

The national publication awards WVU Law a grade of A for public interest law and a B+ for criminal law. 

Just five law schools are ranked higher than WVU for public interest law and only 30 law schools are ahead of WVU in criminal law. There are 204 law schools approved by the American Bar Association.

The magazine graded law schools based on the scope of each program, including concentrations, externships, clinics, and student organizations. The rankings appear in preLaw’s fall 2016 back-to-school issue.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — WVU Law welcomed 106 members of the Class of 2019 to campus in early August. Classes started August 17.

These future lawyers come from 14 states and the District of Columbia, and about 76 percent are from West Virginia. Students who identify themselves as a minority make up 9.4 percent of the class, while 40.5 percent are female and 25 percent are first generation college students. 

The average age is 24 and the age range is 19 to 48 years old. The median LSAT score is 153 and the median undergraduate GPA is 3.32.

Students in the Class of 2019 graduated from 11 colleges and universities in West Virginia. 

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA—The West Virginia University College of Law will host a screening of the documentary “Incarcerating US” followed by a panel discussion on September 20 at 6 p.m. in the college’s Event Hall.

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. A reception will follow in the lobby.

This program is part of WVU’s 2016-17 Campus Read of “Just Mercy,” the Bryan Stevenson book that explores the moral implications of the American justice system.

The prison population in the United States is 2.3 million. “Incarcerating US” highlights the overpopulated prison system and discusses ways to change it through criminal justice reforms.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — The West Virginia University College of Law is going to give a tuition break to residents of other states who graduate from any college or university in West Virginia.

Beginning fall 2017, non-residents who graduate from a public or private higher education institution in West Virginia will be eligible for in-state tuition at the WVU College of Law.

To qualify for the new Loyalty Tuition Program, students must earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in the state.

The program is about creating opportunities for law students who already have strong ties to West Virginia, according to Gregory Bowman, dean of the College of Law.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA— The National Jurist has named West Virginia University College of Law a top 20 Best Value Law School.

“The ranking reinforces the work by faculty and staff to help our students prepare for their futures and start meaningful legal careers,” said Gregory W. Bowman, dean of the College of Law. “Our value is demonstrated by our high employment rate and low student debt.”

The employment rate for the WVU Law Class of 2015 is 80 percent, which is 10 points higher than the national average. The figure is for full-time, long-term Bar Passage Required and J.D. Advantage jobs. 

WVU Law also awards more than $2.9 million a year in scholarships and grants to help keep student indebtedness to approximately $25,000 lower than the national average.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — More  WVU Law students will benefit from scholarship funding thanks to the generosity of two Charleston, West Virginia, attorneys.

Lawyers David Hendrickson and Scott Long have pledged $25,000 to the College of Law Class of 1982 and 1983 Scholarship. Hendrickson is a 1982 graduate; Long earned his degree in 1983. They are partners in the law firm of Hendrickson and Long PLLC. Both made the gift in hopes of inspiring more giving to the WVU College of Law.

Hendrickson has provided support to the  WVU Alumni Association,  WVU Athletics and  WVU School of Nursing in recent years, but now is eager to make a contribution to benefit WVU law students.

“Our firm is pleased to be able to help insure the ability of future WVU students to complete their law degrees,” Hendrickson said. “We hope this matching grant will encourage the law school classes of 1982 and 1983 to contribute to the same cause.”